FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Duron Harmon knows there are far worse places to learn about the NFL than on a team that has Super Bowl aspirations every year, that will spend lavishly to make sure those aspirations continue.

The New England Patriots proved that during the offseason when they signed free agent cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, considered among the best in the NFL, after losing to the Denver Broncos last season in the AFC Championship game.

But the Patriots did not spend lavishly to sign a safety even after veteran Steve Gregory was released during the offseason and ultimately retired. That means Harmon, who played at Rutgers, has the inside track at a starting position opposite Devin McCourty.

Harmon is competing with Patrick Chung, who had an injury-filled and inconsistent 2013 season with the Eagles, who then released him. Harmon and Chung split reps with the first team defense Tuesday during the first of three days of joint practices with the Eagles.

“Guys like that with such credentials, all you can do is really try to soak in everything they say,” Harmon said. “Everything Darrelle says, or Browner says, or Devin, I’m just listening. I’m trying not to do too much talking when those guys are talking. I try to take tips on how to better myself as a football player.

It’s the same type of learning experience for Travis Hawkins, the former University of Delaware defensive back/kick returner, who signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent the day after the NFL draft in May.

Hawkins has a tougher road to make the final 53-man roster than Harmon, who was the Patriots’ third-round draft pick in 2013. But Hawkins has always excelled on special teams at UD, and he’s getting that opportunity with the Patriots while also trying to carve out a spot at safety.

“I like my opportunity,” Hawkins said. “I know I just have to keep working hard. I think special teams will probably be my role. I’ve got to solidify my role, and that’s by working as hard as I can day in and day out to make the roster.”

Harmon is approaching it the same way. He started three games last season when Gregory was injured, one of those against the Broncos and quarterback Peyton Manning in a 34-31 comeback win for the Patriots. Harmon stayed in New England for most of the offseason, working on getting bigger, stronger and faster, knowing the opportunity that lay ahead for him.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said the difference is noticeable. Harmon put on about seven pounds during the offseason from workouts that included yoga.

“(He has a) much better understanding of what we do, much better understanding of what our opponents do,” Belichick said about Harmon. “Better anticipation. He had a great offseason physically — bigger, stronger, faster, more explosive. I would say it’s all positive; all above last year’s bar.”

Hawkins is going through that learning process that Harmon went through last season. He’s finding out that training camp can be long and tedious, yet intense because there are 90 players trying for 53 spots on the roster.

Hawkins got a great opportunity last week in the Patriots’ preseason opener against Washington. He played 34 snaps at safety with the second and third teamers. He also returned a kick for 20 yards.

“It’s a grind,” Hawkins said. “But I think I’m doing pretty well. The coaches tell me I’m doing all right on some days. Other days, I need to work on other things. The game is a little bit faster (than at UD). It’s all mental at this level.

“There are guys who have been in this league for ‘X’ amount of years who know exactly what’s coming at them each and every play. Once I get to a level like that, where you don’t have to think as much and you can just react, then I’ll be fine.”

Harmon is getting closer to that level. And it seems like the Patriots are giving him every opportunity.

“I don’t know the logistics of what’s done in the front office,” he said. “But what I do know is that all I can do is prepare myself like I want to be the starter and just try to prove my worth to the team.”